Wolfpack Show Grit in Hard-Fought NIAC Semifinal Contest

Plymouth, MN – The Oak Hills Christian College Wolfpack battled with determination and heart but came up just short in a 65–59 loss to Trinity Bible College in the Northern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (NIAC) Tournament Semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

The Wolfpack showed resilience throughout the contest, battling back from a double-digit first-half deficit and briefly taking the lead midway through the second half before Trinity closed the game in the final minutes.

Oak Hills opened the game with strong defensive energy and early free throws from Junior Nate Vinson(Maple Grove, MN), but Trinity used an efficient first-half shooting performance to build a 37–26 halftime advantage. The Wolfpack struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 24.3% from the field and 15.0% from three-point range.

Despite the slow start, Oak Hills remained aggressive on the glass. The Wolfpack finished with a 41–38 rebounding edge and collected 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points.

Vinson led the Wolfpack offensively with 23 points and eight rebounds, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. He was especially impactful in the second half, scoring 12 points as Oak Hills mounted its comeback.

Junior Keith Wilson (Pompano Beach, FL)  added 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers while playing all 40 minutes. Junior Lanygel McCracken (Pensacola, FL) recorded a double-double with 11 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, adding three assists and a steal. Freshman Joshua Deckert (Devil's Lake, ND) pulled down eight rebounds, while Senior Bryson Keepers (Sheldon, WI) contributed across the board with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Freshman Chase MacArthur (Roberts, MT) provided a spark off the bench with seven points, four rebounds, and three assists.

The Wolfpack came out of halftime with renewed intensity, trimming the deficit and eventually taking a 51–50 lead with just over nine minutes remaining after a Vinson steal and layup. Oak Hills continued to fight down the stretch, cutting the margin to four in the final minute, but Trinity converted late free throws to secure the victory.

While the Wolfpack held Trinity to 37.9% shooting in the second half and forced 12 turnovers, the difference came in overall field goal efficiency, as Trinity shot 43.3% for the game compared to Oak Hills' 29.0%.

With the semifinal result, the Wolfpack conclude a hard-fought NIAC Tournament run, showing toughness, rebounding strength, and defensive intensity throughout the contest.